Sermons on Galatians, Sermon 43 – Prayer 1
The. 43. Sermon, which is the ſixth and last vponupon the ſixth and last Chapter.
14 God forbid that euer I ſhould glory [in any thing] ſauing in the Croſſe of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, vvhereby the vvorld is crvcified vntounto mee, and I vntounto the vvorld.
15 For in Ieſus Chriſt neither Circumciſion nor Vncircumciſion auayleth any thyng: but the nevv creature.
16 And as many as vvalke according to this rule, peace bee vponupon them and mercy, and vponupon Iſraell that perteyneth to God.
17 From hencefoorth let no man put mee to payne, for I beare in my body the markes of the Lorde Ieſu.
18 Brethren, the grace of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt bee vvith your ſpirite. Amen.
WE hauehave ſeene heeretofore howe Sainct Paule condemned ſuch as ſought altogither to row betweene two ſtreames, thereby too pleaſe the worlde, and in the meane while to eſchue perſecution: And that made them to diſguiſe the Goſpell, whereof wee ſee too many examples yet ſtill at this day. For ſuche as ſee that the pure doctrine and truth of God can not be brucked of the world, but that the wicked ſort doo rage agaynſt it: they (I ſay) would fayne finde ſome meane way, that they might not bee hated nor incurre any diſpleaſure. And that it is ſo: if nowe a dayes yee aske it of ſuch as hauehave but ſome little vnderſtanding: ye ſhal ſcarſe finde one of them among a hundred, whiche will not graunte that there are many abuſes in Poperie: but yet [they will ſay] that all muſt not be cut off by the quicke, but that it is inoughe if ſome of the ouergroſſe and exceſsiue ſuperſtitions bee taken away, and ſo they would fayne ſtill nouriſhe a great ſorte of infections. And why? For (as I hauehave ſayde) they woulde fayne bee in credite and eſtimation, and it is no matter at all with them to betray the pureneſſe of the Goſpell, ſo they may ſaue themſelues from perſecutiō: yea and euen among vsus a man ſhall finde inowe that woulde hauehave bothe. And what moueth them, but that they would aduance them ſelues, and get ſome reputation? Foraſmuche then as wee ſee that the Diuell which rayſed thoſe broyles in the time of Sainct Paule, continueth [the ſame] vntounto this day, we ought to be armed with this doctrine. And the very remedie, is that which S. Paule ſetteth downe heere: namely to reiect all glory, ſaue that which we hauehave in the Croſſe of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. Now for the better vnderſtanding heereof, firſt of all wee muſt call to minde how it is ſayde in Ieremie,…er. 9. f. 23. and alledged alſo by S. Paule, that all the glory of man muſt bee caſt downe, too the ende that God may bee exalted as he deſerueth.Eſa. 29. d. 14. &. 1. Cor. 1 c. 19. And in very deede it is truely ſayde, that all the wiſdome which men weene them ſelues to hauehave, is nothing, but muſt come to account and be quite da…ed, and they muſt reſorte … God, as to him that hath the fulneſſe of all good things in himſe… Let vsus cōfeſſe (I ſay) that all wiſdome proceedeth of his free goodneſſe, inaſmuche as we be inlightened by his holy ſpirite, and that bicauſe we be weake of our ſelues, we muſt be ſtrengthened by his power, and whereas wee be full of all filthe and iniquitie, wee muſt recouer rightuouſneſſe by his gifte. But nowe wee muſt come to the meanes. For it is not inough for vsus to knowe that God is our light, our rightuouſneſſe, our wiſdome, our ſtrength, & finally that the whole perfection [and fulneſſe] of our life, ioy, and happineſſe is in him: that is not inough, for there is a very far diſtāce betwene him and vsus, and therfore it ſtandeth vsus in hande to know how and by what meanes we may be partakers of all the graces whiche wee hauehave to ſeeke in God. Howbeit wee knowe that the whole is communicated to vsus in Ieſus Chriſt, verily for that he came downe heere bilowe, and abaced him ſelfe, and was contented to be crucified for vsus. Seeing then that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt is he out of whō we muſt drawe all things that we hauehave neede of: now wee ſee why S. Paule ſayth he will not ſeeke any glory but in the Croſſe of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. And why? For in as muche as he ſuffered ſo paynefull and bitter a death, yea and was ſet agaynſt Gods iuſtice for vsus, and tooke all our curſedneſſe vponupon him: therefore was he giuen vntounto vsus to be our wiſdome, rightuouſneſſe, holineſſe, ſtrēgth, and all that euer wee want. But firſt of all wee muſt learne what we be, to the intent to beate downe all our owne glorying, and to ſettle our ſelues vponupon our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. For we ſee many men burſt with pride, and they wote not why. There is nothing but winde & ſmoke in all the things which they ſurmiſe of them ſelues. Howbeit the very cauſe why they ſeeke not Ieſus Chriſt, is for want of due examination of them ſelues: and ſuche are the Hypocrites, and the Counterfetters, and thoſe that are puffed vp wyth ouerweening of their owne works. Therefore (as I hauehave touched alreadie) it behoueth vsus to looke to our owne ſtate, and to ſee howe wretched wee be till our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt pitie vsus. That is the way too prepare vsus too come vntounto him. And that ſhall ſerue for one poynte. Howebeeit that is not yet all. For there … that can graunte them ſelues too bee ſinners, and that there is nothing in them but vanitie: and yet notwithſtanding they welter neuertheleſſe in their own filthy dung. And why▪ For they cōceyue not Gods iuſtice, but are (as yee woulde ſay) doted in this world. None of all theſe vnthriftes whiche giuegive them ſelues ouer to drunkenneſſe, or to whoredome, or to ſuche other lewdneſſe, can excuſe their vilanies, but that they are fayne to be aſhamed of them: and yet neuertheleſſe they delight in them, and continue ſtyll in them as if they were hardened. And why? Bicauſe they bee made drunken with this worlde, and the diuell hath ſo clozed vp their eyes, that they ſee not howe they muſt one day come to account. They play the amazed men, and beare them ſelues in hande that they ſhall always ſtande at a ſtay, and ſo they go forward with their naughtineſſe, and neuer ſighe nor be ſorie for the matter, but are alwayes laughing at it, as though they ment to ſpite God wilfully. VVee ſee then that one ſorte is letted, yea or rather vtterly turned backe from comming to Ieſus Chriſt, bicauſe they preſume vponupon their owne wiſedome, and are poſſeſſed with an imagination that Satan hath put into their heade, ſo that too their owne ſeeming they bee wiſe inough without Ieſus Chriſt, and therfore they holde ſcorne of him. The other ſorte (whiche are infinite in number) notwithſtanding that they knowledge themſelues to be wretched ſinners: doo neuertheleſſe not ſeeke the remedie. And why? For this preſent worlde poſſeſſeth them, and they bee ſo wrapped in it, as they can not lifte vp their eyes, nor their mindes, to ſeeke the remedie that is readie for them in Ieſus Chriſt. So muche the more neede therefore hauehave wee to mynde the thing that I hauehave touched alreadie: that is too wit, that wee muſt ridde our ſelues of all ſelfetruſt and ouerweening, and bee ſo greeued as wee may neuer be in reſt till wee hauehave founde ſuccour in our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. And let vsus not only open our eyes to ſee our owne fouleneſſe, and to be aſhamed of it: but alſo let vsus conſider that this life is nothing, and that God hath ſet vsus heere as in a wayfaring, wherin he intendeth to trye whether wee will come to him or no. Therefore let eueryevery of vsus ſummon him ſelfe euening and morning, and as oft as we looke vponupon our ſinn… let them be as ſpurres to pricke vsus and prouoke vsus to repayre vntounto God, ſo as wee may not … brute beaſtes, nor be hilde backe in this world, but that our neceſſitie may alwayes driue vsus too reſorte too our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. Thus yee ſee howe wee may glory in the croſſe of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. And Sainct Paule hath purpoſely ſpoken here of the croſſe, bicauſe the matter that he delte with, was the pulling downe, and as it were the treading vnderunder foote, of all loftyneſſe which men aſpire vntounto. For wee will needes bee alwayes ſomewhat of our ſelues, and holde ſtill ſome worthineſſe. To the ende therefore that we might be diſcharged of that wicked affection: Sainct Paul telleth vsus that Ieſus Chriſt the ſonne of God can not be our glory, but only in reſpect that he was crucified for vsus. And heerevpon inſeweth that which he addeth, namely that we ſhall be crucified to the world, and the world to vsus, when wee ſhall hauehave learned to glory in the only meere grace that is brought vsus by our lord Ieſus Chriſt. As how? ſurely they that are not crucified to the worlde, that is to ſay, they that couet to bee in ſome authoritie, and to ſet out them ſelues, they that deſire to bee honored and exalted, and (to be ſhort) they that are drawen hither and thither of their luſts, doo not yet knowe what it is too glory in the Croſſe of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: for they ſhoulde hauehave begonne at the foreſayde poynt, that is too wit, of beeing confounded in them ſelues. Therefore not without cauſe dooth S. Paule ſay, that for as muche as he had ſetled his glory in the croſſe of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, he had quite forſaken and giuen ouer the worlde. Nowe by the worlde he meaneth all that is delightſome to the fleſhe, as when men think neyther vponupon God, nor vponupon the lyfe of heauen, ſo as one is giuen to couetouſneſſe, another to ambition, and eueryevery man is driuen by his owne naturall ſway, and there is not any that paſſeth further than this world. VVhen men followe their owne ſwinge, and God hath not yet touched them with his holy ſpirite to draw them too him: ſurely although they doo all fling ouer the feelds, and runne aſtray: yet is there great diuerſitie in their affections, ſo that if the matter come to triall, one drawes one way, and another another way cleane contrarie: and to be ſhort, men ſeeme to differ quite & cleane one from another. But yet they be all alike in one thing, that … wit, that they would aduaunce thēſelues to the worldwarde, that they be giuen to their owne priuate profite or pleaſures. At a worde, they be ſo intangled here, that they could find in their harts too be ſeparated from God. But S. Paule ſayth that when wee ſhall hauehave ſet all our glory in our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, knowing that by the meanes of his Croſſe he hath dedicated vsus vntounto his father, and purchaced vsus the kingdome of heauen: then it will be eaſie for vsus to withdraw our ſelues from the world, and to be as it were cut off from it. And why? For it is certayne that whoſoeuer hath bin touched and wounded to the quicke with the feeling of his ſinnes, will ſo purſue the grace that hath bin giuen him in our lord Ieſus Chriſt, as the world ſhall be nothing with him. And in good ſooth wee ſhew that al the ſpirituall benefites which God offreth vsus, & whervnto the calleth vsus are as things of nothing vntounto vsus, in that wee eſteeme them not in compariſon of the trumperie and inticements of Satan. VVhat is this world if a man view it in it ſelfe? There is no man but he ſeeth howe frayle our life is, and howe it is but as a ſmoke that paſſeth and vaniſheth away: and yet wee ſee men frye ſtill in their affections, and howe they bee vtterly caried away and rauiſhed with them. God on his ſide crieth out. Ye wretched folk, ye be more deſtitute of wit than little children. For ye buzie your heads about mooneſhine in the water, and about pelting trifles wherein there is nothing but fooliſhneſſe, & ye be wholly wedded vntounto thē: and yet in the meane ſeaſon whē I offer you perfect happineſſe, ye make none account of it, all is one to you. Yee ſee then that the cauſe why we be ſo cold & negligent now a dayes in receiuing the benefites which God offreth vsus by his Goſpel: is for that the world hath gotten the poſſeſsion of vsus aforehand: and on the other part we alſo do ſet too much ſtore by the world. And why do we ſo? Bicauſe we know not the ineſtimable benefites that God offereth vsus. Therefore let vsus ioyne theſe two togither, that is to wit, that we be crucified to the world, and the world to vsus, bicauſe we hauehave our glory in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt crucified. But this is eaſier to be ſayd than to be doone: and therfore eueryevery man muſt ſtrayne himſelfe in his owne behalfe, & when he vnderſtādeth this leſſon, he muſt put it in practiſe. For if we couet to be taken & auowed for Chriſtians before God & his Angers: we muſt be conformabl… … the holy Ghoſt in the thing that he ſetteth down here. And in very deede if we were not too farre ouerſeene, wee hauehave occaſion of it inough, as hath bin ſaid afore. For they that doo but only enter into themſelues to conſider what they be, and what their ſtate is ſo long as they be ſeparated frō Ieſus Chriſt, muſt needs be ſcared with the feling of gods wrath which they hauehave deſerued, whē they perceiue thēſelues to be plūged in ſuch curſedneſſe, that it were much better for thē if the earth had ſwallowed thē vp a hundred times, than to hauehave liued in that plight but one day, being in the meane while enimies to their God, frō whoſe hands they can not ſcape. Therefore let vsus lerne to looke to our ſelues. Such as intend to deck thēſelues to the worldward, & ſpecially women, will looke in a glaſſe, & that ſhal be done with as much curioſitie & wareneſſe as may be. But in the meane while we looke not vpō our ſelues to ſpie our own wāts and filthineſſe, to the end we might humble our ſelues truly before God, & ſeeke our glory where it is to be had. Now, it is certen that he which knoweth his own reproch & ſhame, wil ſeeke to come to the remedie of it, at leaſtwiſe of Gods ſpirite worke liuely in vsus, & that we be not ſotted by Satā, as I hauehave ſaid afore. Let vsus lerne, let vsus lerne to looke vpō ourſelues, both without feining, & without flattery. And whē we ſhall hauehave knowē our own wāts & miſeries, let vsus reſort to our lord Ieſus Chriſt. And foraſmuch as al loftineſſe, ſtatelineſſe, & vaunting muſt be beaten down by meanes of the Croſſe: Let vsus be truly crucified to the world, and let the world alſo be nothing vntounto vsus. Now whereas S. Paule ſayth, that the world was crucified to him, & he to the world: it is true that he meeneth another thing [than playn crucifying]. For therby he intended to ſhew yet more ſtrongly, how we may renounce the world, and be ſeparated frō it, namely by beeing crucified to ourſelues as in reſpect of the world, that is to ſay, by mortifying al the luſts that fight one againſt another within vsus, & hauehave too much force, & inflame vsus al wholly like a burning fire, & caſt vsus heere & there, bicauſe wee ſee that the ſon of God was fayne to ſuffer ſo reprochful a death for vsus. VVho would now make his triumphes & braueries in the world, when he ſeeth that he which is the head of the Angels, & vntounto whō belōg all maieſtie, glory, & dominiō, … hāged vpō tree, & made accurſed & abhominable for vsus?Gal. 3. c. 13. Thus ye ſee by what meanes al our luſts may be mortified, and the death and paſsion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt worke ſo in our hearts, as our luſts may be no more ſo tickliſhe as they hauehave bin. And that is for one poynt. Agayne, the world muſt be crucified vntounto vsus. As howe? By eſteeming all worldly thinges as chaffe and corruption (according as in very deede there is not any thing in them whiche is not corruptible) in compariſon of the ſpirituall benefites whiche Ieſus Chriſte hathe brought vsus, and whiche wee inioy by this meanes. For in very deede all worldly things are corruptible. And moreouer, what elſe are all the things whiche men couet ſo ſore and ſo vehemently that they bee vtterly intangled in them, but ſnares that Satan hathe layde too catche them withall? Are they not al of them illuſions & trumperies? Yes ſurely bee they. Seeing it is ſo then, let vsus learne too ſet nothing by the worlde, and too bee fully perſuaded and reſolued in oure ſelues, that God is our freende, that he acknowledgeth vsus for hys children and heires, and that he bliſſeth vsus, and that without thoſe things wee bee miſerable. By this meanes then yee ſee wee maye paſſe lightly through the world, and not be ſtayed not pulled back by any thing, for wee will alwayes looke ſtill to that marke. VVee knowe wee ought to make haſt too come too the place that God calleth vsus too: and if the affections of this world intangle vsus, wee ſhall be eſtraunged from our God by that meanes. Thus yee ſee in effect what wee hauehave to remember vponupon this ſtreyne. Now heerevpon S. Paule addeth, that in Ieſus Christ neyther Circumciſion nor Vncircumciſion auayleth any thing at all: but the newe creature. As if he ſhould ſay, that they which dyd then trouble the Church, had nothing to moue them therto but their owne vayngloriouſneſſe. For to ſtirre vp great troubles when the Church is not furthered nor fareth the better by them, ſurely it ſheweth that men ſeeke nothing elſe, but to ſet vp them ſelues in the roume of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. For what ſhould be all our drift, but that the ſonne of God might reigne among vsus, and we be ruled by the worde of his Goſpell, and that his power might bee knowen, to the ende that bothe great and ſmall might put their whole truſt in him? And therefore according heerevnto, let vsus bee reſo…ed in our whole life to obe… God, and to ſubmit our ſelues to his word. For like as Gods ſpiritual tēple conſiſteth in fayth & newneſſe of life: ſo faith importeth that we ſhould do homage vntounto God for all his benefites, that wee ſhould hauehave our recourſe vntounto him, that we ſhould blaze abrode his praiſes, and that his holy name ſhould bee called vppon among vsus. That is the way for vsus to be aduaunced to be Gods temple. Ageine on the other ſide, we muſt alſo be renued in our life, & by patience learne to renounce ourſelues, and to dedicate ourſelues vntounto God. Lo what all teachers and preachers ought too procure. They then which ſhoote not at that marke, do ſhew well ynough that their intent is not to ſerue our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. So then S. Paule declareth that nothing auaileth in Ieſus Chriſt, but the new creature: that is to ſay, that wee muſt come too that poynt, according as wee hauehave ſeene how he ſayd heretofore in the ſecond to the Corinthans,2. Cor. 5. c. 17. that whoſoeuer will bee eſteemed in Ieſus Chriſt, muſt become a newe creature. For if one man boaſt of his eloquence, another of his wit, another of his great learning, and another of his trim behauiour or goodly perſonage all this is but vanitie. Therfore let vsus learne too forſake our ſelues quite, and to forſake the world, and to gyue our ſelues to him that hath bought vsus, to the end that wee bee no more looce. For it is good reaſon that Ieſus Chriſt hauing bought vsus ſo deerly, ſhould poſſeſſe vsus and fully inioy vsus. But that cannot bee done, except eueryevery of vsus renounce himſelfe, and all things elſe that may hold vsus among men. Lo what we hauehave to marke. Now Sainct Paule ſpeaketh of Circumciſion & vncircumciſion, bycauſe that (as yee hauehave ſeen afore) the diſputation and controuerſie which he had was about the Ceremonies of the Lawe, which he comprehendeth heere vnderunder the particular terme of Circumciſion. For the Iewes would needes hauehave men to reteine ſtill all the ſhadowes & figures which ſerued but for a time. And therfore S. Paul ſcorning all thoſe things, ſaith that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt is not come to holde vsus ſtill in the old forworne figures, but that for as much as the veyle of the temple is rent aſunder, and he hath in himſelfe the body and ſubſtance of all the ſhadowes that were in the Lawe: men muſt holde themſelues contented with him, and therfore Circumciſion was no … any thing worth. VVee ſhall profit our ſelues the more by … text, if we apply it to that which we ſaw yeſterday. For in pope … they hauehave many pelting tryfles wherin they put all the truſt of holineſſe. And if a man aske the Papiſts how they cā deſerue fauor at Gods hand & purchace remiſsion of their ſinnes, as they make their boaſt: They will clap you in the mouth with their holywater, their Tapers, their Sencings, their Organplayes, their chauntings, their Pilgrimages & with a nūber of other things. Agein they hauehave their fooliſhe deuotions of trotting from altar to altar & frō chappell to chappell. Moreouer they muſt buy good ſtore of Maſſes. To be ſhort, all Gods ſeruice which is ſo termed in the popedome, is but a maze & gulfe of ſuperſtitions inuented of their owne heades. But let vsus conſider what thoſe things may auaile. God hath not made mention of any of thē, but men hauehave deuiſed them of themſelues, yea or rather Satā hath whiſpered them into their eares, too trouble Gods ſeruice withall. And yet notwithſtanding, the papiſts imagin that there is neither Religiō, nor faith, nor ſeruice of God, nor zeale, except a man be rauiſhed with their foolesbables. But S. Paule ſpeaking euen of the ceremonies that God had ordeined in his law, ſaith that they be henſforth as nothing. And why? For God thinketh it ynough that we ſerue him with a pure cōſcience, & that hauing put our truſt in him, we call vpō him, knowing that we hold all things of him, and therwithal that we liue vprightly & faithfull, one with another, knowing that charitie is the fulfilling of the law & the end of the law: & finally that we be ſo dedicated to our god, as we may liue chaſtly & in all holineſſe,Tit. 2. c. 13. waiting for the comming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt as it is ſaid in the epiſtle to Titus. That thē is the firſt poynt of the holineſſe & perfection which God ſheweth vsus by his worde. But the Papiſtes will on the contrary parte ſaye, how ſo? what ſhall become of ſo many goodly deuotions? Shall they all bee aboliſhed? Nay it were better that God ſhoulde bee plucked out of Heauen. Lo what the doltiſhneſſe of the Papiſtes is. But wee ſee howe Sainct Paule telleth vsus, that if men bee ſo ſore drowned in their owne fancies, as too ſurmize that they can woorke woonders with God, and bee hild downe too their owne pelting traſhe: all of it is nothi…g woorthe. VVho hath pronounced it? God by the mouth of Sainct Paule. VVhat [auaileth …n? The newe creature. And what is ment by the new creature? T… wee ſhoulde fall too examining of our lyues after ſuche a ſorte, as wee myght bee vtter abaced in our ſelues: and therevpon offer vntoo God the ſpirituall ſacrifyces whyche wee owe vntoo him, euen offering ourſelues too him to the end he may hauehave pitie and merciemercy vppon our myſeries, and prouide remedie for them: and finally bee ready too follow him whither ſoeuer he calleth vsus, & not hauehave any other wiſedome than his only woorde, knowing that he cannot bee ſerued with pompes and gay ſhowes of great glittering too the worlde, but he is contented that wee ſhoulde ſimply offer vp vntounto him our thoughts and affections. And therfore it is long of none but of our ſelues, that we knowe not what S Paule meeneth, nor wheretoo this leſſon may ſerue vsus. For it is certeine, that all they which flatter not themſelues in their owne vyces, but looke vp vntoo God, knowing that they muſt come before his iudgemēt ſeate will rid their handes of all glorie. And furthermore they will conſider what God commaundes them by his word, how he wilbee ſerued of vsus, and what he alloweth, ſo as they ſhall no more bee in daunger too bee deceyued, by thoſe tryfling toyes wherein the hypocrites are plunged ouer heade and eares. For it is certeine that whereas the Papiſtes torment themſelues (as wee ſee) to ſerue God: it is too none other ende, but that he ſhould hold them acquit, and they ſcape his hands, & not be conſtreined to ſerue him as he commaūdeth: for they deſpiſe the whole law, & yet in the meane while hauehave a nūber of things to put into their account, which they would hauehave God to allow of. But (as I ſaid) the end of all their dooings, is to imagin themſelues diſcharged to Godward, and that he ſhould not preſſe thē to ſore, and yet notwithſtanding, that they might follow their own ſwindge, & take leaue to aſſoile thēſelues of al their ſinnes, & that God hauing I wote not what, (that is too ſay, ſome faire countenance of their owne bringing) ſhoulde hauehave his mouth ſhet and not bee ſo hardie as too ſpeake a worde. Now then wee ſee whereat S. Paule amed. And he addeth in the wynding vp, Peace and mercye bee vppon all thoſe that ſubmit themſelues too that rule, and vppon Iſraell that perteyneth too God. In ſpeaking of the Rule, he ſheweth that men may well ma… themſelues beleeue thys or that … yet in the meane whyle God wyl not bow, for he is not mutable that he ſhould ſuffer himſelf to be led by our folyes, or be made to ſwarue aſide: that is impoſsible ſaith S. Paul, and whatſoeuer befall, the Law that God hath ſtabliſhed muſt abide vnchaungeable as he himſelf is. No doubt but we will admit this at the firſt ſight. For who wil not willingliy abide that God ſhould be our ſuperior? Yea and we perceiue ful wel, that to ſay the contrary were blaſphemie. Yee ſee then that at a glaunce the whole world can wel graunt that God ſhould be our ſouerein, and his lawe our rule, but therwithall let vsus ſee what libertie men take to themſelues. EueryEvery man deuiſeth one thing or other, and when he hath ſo done, he would hauehave all other men too obſerue the ſame: eueryevery man then woulde hauehave his owne rule alone by himſelf. True it is that in the popedome all are not of the rule of S. Frauncis or of S. Dominik: but yet for all that there is not ſo doting an old foole, nor ſo ſuperſtitious an hypocrite in the popedome but he hath his rule. Ageine, there is not ſo yong a calfe but he hath his rule too. For all of them will ſay, that is my deuotion. And their vſing of the worde Deuotion, is as much to ſay with them, as, God is put backe, and I muſt hauehave my libertie to do what I liſt, and God muſt hold himſelf contented with it. Thus wee ſee how the diueliſh pride of mē in fleeting to and fro, and in wandering out at rouers, gadding now on the one ſide and now on the other, is all one as if they made crooked and ouerthwart pathes, & that God ſhould therfore be faine to bow his rule, & become plyable to bend according to their fancies. So much the more therfore behoueth it vsus too marke well howe it is ſaid heere, that men may well torment themſelues, but yet Gods rule ſhall continue ſtill, & hold on his courſe and keepe his pace. And what is this rule? It is that it ſhould ſuffize vsus to hauehave perfection in ſuch wiſe, as our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſheweth it vsus in his Goſpell. Not that it can be fully in vsus: but that it behoueth vsus too labour towardes it. For when wee ſpeake of perfection it is not ment that we can atteine to it ſo long as we liue: but that we muſt not ſwarue one way nor other, neither to the right hand nor to the left, but keepe on ſtill to the mark that God ſheweth vsus. Yee ſee then that it behoueth vsus to become newe creatures: that is to ſay, wee … renounce ourſelues and y…lde wholly vntounto God. And ſith it is ſo: let vsus bethinke vsus too ſub… ourſelues to the ſayd rule, and to frame ourſelues therafter. For eueryevery man will ſoone ſet forth his legges and feete: but that ſhall be but to fisk heere and there. And therefore to the end we ſtray not, let vsus learne to ſticke faſt to the things that God ſheweth and teacheth vsus by his woorde. Now wheras S. Paule ſaith that peace and merciemercy ſhal be vponupon them: it is to ſhewe vsus, that we may defye the whole world, and that although wee be condemned by the follie of men, yet wee neede not to paſſe for it, but may keepe on our race ſtill: ſo God allow of vsus, it is ſufficient. For ſurely we ſhewe that wee yeeld him not the honor which is due to him, when wee be ſo ſhaken downe by the fooliſhe iudgement of the worlde, and with the opinions that men ſowe abrode of vsus. If it bee ſayd of vsus, theſe fellowes behaue not themſelues well, and wee bee greeued at it, & thervpon would frame ourſelues to eueryevery mans liking: it is certein that in the meane while wee ſhall ſwarue aſide from God. So then let vsus marke well how S. Paule hath tolde vsus heere, that althoughe men condemne vsus and finde fault in our doyngs: (as certeinly the world will neuer agree with God:) yet notwithſtanding wee muſt eſteeme it as nothing, and hold ourſelues contented that God bliſſeth vsus, and offereth vsus heere all happineſſe vnderunder the word peace, certifying vsus that he will hauehave compaſsion vponupon vsus, how miſerable ſoeuer we be. Although men ſhould ſpit in our faces, and although there appeere no ſuch vertues in vsus as were requiſite: yet notwithſtanding, if we keepe on our way ſtill vntounto God, we ſhall euer finde him pitifull to beare with our infirmities, and to releeue all our miſeries. VVhen wee be once at the poynt, it ought to ſuffyze vsus. But on the contrary part, let vsus vnderſtand alſo that in bliſsing ſuch as frame themſelues too the rule of God, the holy Ghoſt curſeth and deteſteth, yea and vtterly ſhaketh off ſuch as runne at rouers after that ſort, and ſet more by their owne fancies than by all lawes, and will needes hauehave leaue to do what they liſt, and harden themſelues in ſuch wiſe ageinſt Gods word. Although then that they be had in reputatation to the worldward, and be in a maner drunken in their owne pride and preſumption, and ſet more by themſelues than rea… would they ſhould: yet wee ſee that God doth alwayes holde them as accurſed. So then the thing that wee hauehave to remember in effect, is that we hauehave but one only rule, which is conteyned in the Goſpell. And whither doth that rule leade vsus? Euen to this, that we bring not to God what we our ſelues think good, or what we hauehave deuized of our own head: but that we ſubmit ourſelues wholly vntounto him & to his woord, and cōſider alſo that ſeing we hauehave all perfection in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, we muſt be cōtented with him alone, ſpecially for aſmuch as we ſee God to be pitifull in hauing merciemercy vponupon vsus, and that our life ſhall be happie and bliſſed of him, ſo we go on foorth whither ſoeuer he calleth vsus: Lyke as on the contrarie parte, what ſoeuer opinion the worlde hauehave of vsus, and how much ſo euer it fauour vsus, we muſt needes be accurſed, if we hauehave not the rule that Sainct Paule ſpeaketh of heere. And hee addeth Iſraell that belongeth too God: too ſhewe that they whiche ſerue God after that ſpirituall maner, ſhall alwayes bee acknowledged of him for his people. For Sainct Paules enemies agaynſt whom he diſputed in all this Epiſtle, woulde needes hauehave all the Ceremonies kept, and that they ſhoulde bee the markes of the Churche, as they ſurmyzed. Likewiſe in theſe dayes the Papiſtes woulde hauehave men too keepe [Oyle and] Creame and diuers other things. But Sainct Paules enemies had much more colour than the Papiſtes hauehave, and their cace was much better in compariſon. Neuertheleſſe Sainct Paule reiecteth all thoſe things, and ſayeth that God muzeth not vppon any of thoſe ſmall toyes. True it is that he had ordeyned the figures of the Lawe for a tyme, and they had alſo ſome profite in them, bycauſe they ſerued too leade the people too our Lord Ieſus Chriſte. But nowe that wee hauehave the ſubſtance and pithe of them in him: wee muſte gyue them quyte ouer. Then of muche more lykelyhood they bee not the Iſraell of God, that ſet foorth themſelues with greate pompe before men: but they that hauehave the true marke of God. For when the Papiſtes ſpeake too vsus of the Churche, the Pope muſte needes bee there with his tryple Crowne, the Biſhoppes muſte bee diſguyzed too playe their enterlude, there muſte bee a ſorte of horned beaſtes, all muſte gliſter, the Prieſtes and Monkes muſte bee preſent, and the eyes of the ſimple ſoules muſte bee dazeled. Yee ſee then wherein the Churche of God conſiſteth after the opinion of the Papiſtes: that is too wit, in pompe and in tryfling and vnprofitable gewgawes.
And what ſay they too the Sacramentes? They muſt hauehave this and that: and to bee ſhorte, they hauehave their ma…kes whych they take to bee good ſtuffe. But in the meane whyle let vsus come too the Goſpell. VVhat ſhall a man fynde there? Nothing but plaine ſimplicitie. God will not hauehave the preachers of his word and the miniſters of his ſacramentes too bee diſguiſed, nor too make ſo many murlimewes: neither is it his will that his ſacramentes ſhould bee defyled with mennes inuentions, for all that is nothing before God. Therefore let vsus beare well in mynde the definition of the true Churche whiche Sainct Paule ſetteth downe heere, too the end we bee not ſhaken when men ſay too vsus. How nowe? See I pray you how goodly things they bee. They bee ſo in deede according too our naturall vnderſtandyng. For after as a man is fleſhly and earthly: ſo will he be alwayes inclined to followe the thing that caryeth a fayre ſhewe to his ſenſes. But it is not for vsus too iudge of Gods ſeruice: we muſt ſticke too that which he hath determined, for his ſentence cannot bee repealed: which is that wee muſt ſeeke al our whole wyſedome in Ieſus Chriſt, which thing wee then doo when wee obey him, and not elſe. Furthermore let vsus vnderſtand that he will not hauehave vsus any longer tyed too the outward things which he ordeined in the time of the Law: but he will hauehave vsus to be contented with Ieſus Chriſt alone, & with the perfection that is in him. And therevpon wee hauehave alſo too marke, how he wiſheth the grace of our Lord Ieſus Christ too bee with their ſpirit. For it ſheweth that the worlde by reaſon of his vnthankefulneſſe: is not worthie too ſee the benefites that are offered it in Ieſus Chryſt. The Goſpell ſhall [perchaunce] bee preached ynoughe, but yet in the meane whyle we ſee how eueryevery man ſhrinkes back and wrytheth aſide, as thoughe wee had conſpyred too forſake the good way of ſaluation, too caſt our ſelues intoo ruine and deſtruction. And what is the cauſe thereof? It is for that wee hauehave oure myndes emptie, and the Diuel fynds always entrance into vsus, and thervpon tempteth and prouoketh vsus too flitter in the ayre. Too bee ſhort, vntill … grace of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt bee with our ſpirit, it is certeyn that wee ſhall alwayes bee as wayeryug reedes, ſo as there ſhall bee neither holde nor ſtay in vsus.
Yee ſee then that the point wheretoo wee muſt come, is not onelyonly that God ſhould poure out his grace vppon vsus, but that wee alſo ſhoulde ſo receiue it in harte and minde, as it may take roote, not to hold vsus downe heere beneath, but to lift vp our affections & all our ſenſes vntounto God. And bicauſe this doctrine can neuer paſſe vnſpoken ageinſt, S. Paule doth heere defie all ſuch as lift vp thēſelues ageinſt it, and ſaith: Hereafter let no man trouble mee, for I beare the markes of our Lord Ieſus Christ in my body. VVhen he ſpeaketh of the markes of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, he ſetteth them ageinſt all the cotes armours of Princes, ageinſt all their Crownes and ſcepters, & ageinſt all the cogniſances or badges, which they hauehave too honour thēſelues withal, or to purchaſe thēſelues any maieſtie or reuerence to the worldward. VVhen a Prince intendeth to keepe his eſtate, he will furniſh and apparell himſelf in ſuch ſort, as men ſhal not bee able to looke vponupon him without dazeling of their eyes. And they do it, oftentimes bicauſe they hauehave not in themſelues wherwith to win eſtimation, but are faine to borrow it elſe where: and ſo yee ſee it is the faſhion of worldlings to ſet out themſelues with pomp and brauerie, and to vſe many things to get themſelues reputation. To be ſhort, the world doth alwayes borrow of others, bicauſe it hath nothing but vanitie in it ſelfe. But S. Paule telleth vsus that the marks of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt are much better, preciouſer, and of farre greater Maieſtie, than all the things wherwith the world is ſo rauiſhed as wee ſee. But by the way wee muſt ſee what he ment by theſe markes.2. Cor. 11. e. 24. He hath ſhewed it [in another Epiſtle] heretofore, where he ſayth that he had bin often whipped, that he had bin once ſtoned that he had bin caſt in priſon, that he had ſuffered hunger & thirſt, and finally that he had bin as an outcaſt and forlorne perſon. True it is that ſuch reprochfull things would bee ſhunned to the worldward. But S. Paule ſaith that they be much better, than all the honor and pompe that could be deuiſed to be done vntounto him, and that he caryeth thoſe markes, to the end that men ſhould not ſtop him of his courſe, nor hinder him of diſcharging his duetie. Now then wee ſee how S. Paules meaning is, firſt that if we bee Chriſtians and … true Church of God, we muſt keepe this order, namely that we bee vnited togither, or that wee bee all as one. And howe is that? Not eueryevery man after his owne fancie, as wee ſee ſome doo, who beyng of a froward minde cannot poſsibly frame themſelues to others, but will needes keepe alone by themſelues, like ſhrewde horſes, and it were too bee wiſhed that there were Hermitages and Cloyſters for ſuch maner of people, when they will not by any meanes ioyne with the order of the Churche. Therefore when they doo ſo ſeparate themſelues from the companie of the faithfull through their owne pryde, they muſt bee made the Diuelles Hermites and Cloyſterers. But howſoeuer the worlde go, men ſee why they bee ſo hidden: namely bycauſe the Diuell holdeth and poſſeſſeth them, and their deſire is nothing elſe but too hauehave I wote not what a ſeparation, too turne quyte and cleane away from God. But Sainct Paule telleth vsus, that the rule which wee muſt go by is this, namely that we make Ieſus Chriſt our ſhooteanker, laboring too faſhion our ſelues lyke vntounto him, ſo that whenſoeuer he ſpeakes, wee may yeeld our ſelues too his ſaying, and eueryevery of vsus keepe his order: and afterward that wee help one another. For wee may well brag of perfection and of this and that: but if wee indeuer not too further the buylding vp of the ſpirituall temple, ſurely wee ſhall ſtill ſerue Satan, and bee as ſlaues vnderunder his tyrannie. Therefore let vsus learne to hauehave one conformitie among vsus, tending all togither too our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. And furthermore let ſuch as hauehave ſtoutneſſe and cōſtancie to walke in Gods Lawe, defie all theſe Cockerelles that mount vp in pryde after that faſhion, too bring in this or that. For Ieſus Chriſt will alwayes knowe his owne markes. That is too ſay, although wee bee deſpyzed too the worldward, yet ſhall wee alwayes bee auowed too bee Gods children. And therefore let vsus go on forewarde ſtill, and let ſuch as would ſtoppe vsus, be ſure that God will beate them down, as wee hauehave ſeene heeretofore. Yea and it is good reaſon that they ſhould bee ſcattered and confounded,Gal. 5. b. 12. ſith they breake the vnitie of the Churche: and for aſmuch as they will not imploy their ſeruice (according too their abilitie) too the furtherance of the kingdome of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, G…rt muſte needes ouerthrowe them how glorious or prydefull ſo euer they bee. Thus yee ſee what we hauehave too gather vppon this text, if wee minde too continue in the inioying and poſſeſsion of the benefites that hauehave bin purchaced for vsus ſo deerely, by the death and paſsion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and are ſtill dayly offered vsus by the Goſpell.
And now let vsus fall downe before the Maieſtie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faults, praying him that wee may bee ſo wounded with them, as they may make vsus too bewayle them and too craue forgiueneſſe of them, and alſo too reforme them in ſuch wiſe by true repentance, as wee may fight manfully agaynſt all the vyces and corruptions of our fleſhe, till he hauehave ridde vsus quyte and cleane of them all, too clothe vsus agayne with his owne rightuouſneſſe. And ſo let vsus all ſay, Almightie God heauenly father &c.
Thus ende the Sermons of Mayſter Iohn Caluin vppon the Epiſtle of S. Paule too the Galathians.
All prayſe, glorie, honour, and thankes bee only vntoo God through his Sonne our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Amen.
The prayer which M. Iohn Caluin made ordinarily before the beginning of his Sermons.
LEt vsus call vppon our good God and father, praying him too vouchſafe too turne away his face from the great number of faultes and offences, wherby we ceaſſe not to prouoke his wrath agaynſt vsus: and foraſmuch as wee bee too too vnworthie to appeare before his maieſtie, it may pleaſe him to loke vponupon vsus in the countenance of his welbeloued ſonne o… Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, accepting the deſert of his death and paſsion, for a full recompence of all … ſinnes, that by meanes thereof he may like well of vsus, and vouchſafe to inlighten vsus by his ſpirite, in the vnderſtanding of his word, and graunt vsus the … to receyue the ſame in true feare and humilitie, ſo as we may be taught thereby to put our truſt in him, to ſerue and honour him by glorifying his holy name in all our life, and to yeelde him the louelove and obedience which faythfull ſeruants owe to their maiſters, and children too their fathers, ſeeing it hath pleaſed him too call vsus to the number of his ſeruants and children. And let vsus pray vntounto him as our good maiſter hath taught vsus too pray, ſaying. Our father which art. &c.